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Yoga As A Continual Practice Can Keep Chest Pain At Bay AND Even Control Coronary Heart Disease

Did you know that heart disease is among the primary causes of death in the United States especially for Senior Citizens or people overly stressed and inactive. Did you further know that you can attempt to control this state by controlling your diet and exercising.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease.

It is caused by the buildup of cholesterol in the inside layers of the arteries. As a result of the blockage, the blood flow will slow down and your muscles will not get enough supply of blood. The build up also weakens the arterial wall which may lead to a crack and the formation of blood clot.

The blood clot and block in the arteries often leads to heart attack.

It's really sad to think that nearly half of CAD cases come on so gradually that they show no symptoms and result in death.

However, most people with CAD often experience Angina (pain, pressure, or burning in the chest, arm, or neck). It's one of the scariest moments in a person’s life when you first develop severe chest pain. Often you don't even realize what you're experiencing and what it's a precursor of.

Chest pain often signals that something is not right. It is important you know what to do if you experience chest pain, and how to take care of your heart.

The pain indicates that the heart muscle lacks blood supply. It may not be severe but patients who experience angina or a worsened usual pattern of angina should contact a physician. Other symptoms can include irregular heart rhythms, shortness of breath, fatigue, low tolerance to exertion, and congestive heart failure. The worst case symptoms would be heart attack and "death".

Although chest pain can happen for a great many reasons, and often it's as harmless as heartburn it does get people thinking about heart health, and what they can do to live a healthier life.

The practice of yoga as a mind, body and spirit solution does come to mind. Yoga strenghtens and tones the body. It helps keep your blood pressure in check and helps relieve tension.

Lifestyle often can be an indicator as to how likely you are to suffer CAD. Factors such as smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle can and do contribute to the probability of getting CAD.

Naturally, stress and anxiety are also common causes of CAD. Just think of the work and business pressures we're under daily. Unless you have a way to counter this stress and alleviate its affects, it builds up.

And don't think it's just for the middle aged and older, CAD progression can be gradual and can also occur at an early age. As teenagers, you may develop some "fatty streaks". Later, the blockage will go up to 50%, to 90%, and then to 100%. This gradual buildup is called atherosclerosis that can begin in your younger years and develop as you grow older. Once the vessel closed, a heart attack normally follows.

So as parents, it is absolutely necessary to keep a check on your children's diet and exercise regime and teach them to live in a healthy and health conscious way right from the start.

Your doctor should be the first person you see if you want to take care of your heart. They may have eating plans and guides to help you make better choices. They can also run tests to see how high your cholesterol is. This can tell you whether you should should worry about heart trouble any time soon.

Doctors will also be able to help you better understand different types of chest pain. The more you know about what a heart attack may do to your chest, and the rest of your body, the more likely you are to catch the signs of a heart attack early. Chest pain is not the only sign of a heart attack, and you should know what else to look out for.

Yoga improves your body's strength and flexibility which may help control blood pressure, respiration, and heart and metabolic rates.

Perhaps you can consider a more natural lifestyle. Some call it a Yoga Lifestyle. This can mean a greater emphasis on a vegetarian diet and a no tobacco and perhaps even no or less alcohol.

This can in itself can also make the progression of CAD slower or make severe CAD patients recover faster.

The Practice of Yoga also helps you cope with stress and anxiety which are also common causes of CAD.

A yoga practice gives you a deeper knowledge of yourself which often leads to a healthier lifestyle and the attempt to eliminate obvious risky activities such as too much drinking and smoking.

Try following this basic yoga routine to help you cope with Coronary Artery Disease and Heart problems general. However, if you have CAD or any other heart disease consult with your doctor and use Yoga as an ancillary practice.

Yoga is not a cure in itself to lifestyle ailments; it however helps you improve your entire body, and mind to be able to cope with your affliction. Yoga and a yoga mindset works towards preventing rather than needing to cure.

Corpse Pose

This Yoga Pose helps to relax the body and relieves stress and tension which can cause or trigger CAD.
Lie on your back with your arms by your side where they naturally want to go. So don't force them next to you, you will find that they are more comfortable a little way away from your body with your palms turned up. Relax your legs. Allow your feet to fall outwards. Lengthen your neck. Soften your face and close your eyes.
Breath in and out through the nose. Focus your awareness on your breath and remove yourself from what's going on around you.
Notice how you feel. Become aware of the tension in you and as you breathe out, visualize the tensions flowing out of your body with each breath you release.
As you breathe in visualize your body filling with positive, healing energy.
Stay in this meditative pose for 5 minutes or even longer. Whatever your comfortable with. Each time you practice this you will be able to still the mind a little longer and release tension better.
When you're finished, bring your awareness back to your body. Wriggle your hands, toes and body gently. Slowly roll onto your right side and then slowly come back to a sitting position

The benefits of the corpse pose:

it relaxes the mind and body.
during this time of relaxation the body can recuperate and repair itself
it's an opportunity to be at peace and surrender your awareness.
relaxation helps lower blood pressure and relieve tension.

If you experience chest pain, follow your doctor’s advice especially if chest pain is a sign of a serious problem, and remember what they tell you to do. They may advise you to take aspirin on a daily basis, but don’t do this unless they tell you too. If you come upon someone else who is experiencing chest pain, don’t be afraid to call for help. Many people are afraid of getting involved or making a bad choice. It is better to sound a false alarm when confronted with chest pain than it is to risk someone losing their life.

If your chest pain is not the result of a heart attack or heart condition, it still may be a strong signal that something is not right. You should always report bouts of chest pain to your doctor so they can determine if you are healthy, or if there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

But in all cases, a yoga lifestyle can help be a preventative in many cases even if it's not a cure in itself.

Further Articles of Interest

Healing Power of Yoga and the Benefits of Yoga gives details as to which yoga positions benefit what parts of your body and also what conditions
Yoga is also an answer to helping to eliminate stress and to relax. This article discusses how yoga achieves this and what you can do to help eliminate stress.

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